peters



5 UNITED ST'NrJES PATENT Omen.

ARTHUR w. cox, or URURn, M INE, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO JOHN r. BULLIVANT, or-nRwARK, NEW JERSEY.

LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 'I T0. l292,792, dated February 5, 1884.

Application filed September 15, 1881 (Model) .T all whom, it "may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR XV. Oox,a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Androscoggin and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lasts; and I do hereby decl are the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will en-' able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked there-' on, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to. improvements in i5 lasts, in which are employed a metallic sole-.

piece and a wooden instep-block for giving form to the upper of the shoe.

It consists in a metallic sole-piece having upwardly-pro ecting flanges extending from the toe nearly to the heel, where they terminate and provide avertical opening to receive the rear end of the wooden instep-block, into which the lasting-nails at the heel of the boot may be driven, the said sole-piece being adapted to receive any form of instep. or upper block.

In consists, further, in the combination, with the metallic sole-piece, of a narrow center instep-block, having its rear end fixed between the rear ends of the side flanges of the sole piece, and extended along the center thereof to the toe, and constructed and arranged to give open air-space around it. I

It consists, further, in the combination of the several parts, as hereinafter fully described.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan, Fig. 2 is an inverted plan, Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, Fig. 4 is a detail of top piece, and Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line as m, Fig. 1, of a last constructed according to my invention. a is the metallic sole-piece. It may be con structed with a recess, a, on its under side, as shown, into which can be inserted a piece of wood or any other suitable material. The

sole-piece is furnished with openings, through which bolts may be put for making fast the wooden instep or upper-block, hereinafter described.

a? is an upwardly-projecting curved flange tion.

placed on the edge of the top of the base or sole piece, and extending from or near the toe to near the heel of the sole-piece, where it terminates on either side and leaves an opening, in which is placed the rear end of the rib or center piece, hereinafter described. This flange at its rear termination is made nearly the height of the rib or center piece, hereinafter described, and slopes off toward the toe por' b is the rib or center piece, made preferablyof wood, in order to reduce the weight-of the last, and also to provide a suitable sub stance, into which the lasting-nails for holding the heel of the boot may be driven. It is se-- cured to the metallic base-piece by a bolt, 12, and its rear portion rests between the ends of the flange a", and provides a suitable material to receive the lasting-nails of the counter of the shoe, and its forward end.- extends to or near the toe of the skeleton. The top of the forward part of this rib or center piece is cut away into the concave curve, as shown, to permit the insertion of the instep-block, hereinafter described, and is slotted, as shown, and forms the two parallel arms b 12 which are joined near the toe by the bolt b If is a hole or socket in the top of the rear portion of the rib or center piece, I), and is adapted to receive the end of the jack which holds the last.

0 is the removable instep-block, consisting of the main block 0 and the dependent lip 0 The main portion 0 is curved on its under side in convex form, to correspond with and slide 8 5 on the concave portion of the rib or center piece, I). The dependent lip cis made same width as the slot in'the forward end of the rib or center piece, I), and its forward end is cut away in'the shape shown, and has the extension 0, which passes under the bolt 22'', and holds the instep-block in proper position. The top of the instep-block is made the same contour as the instep of the foot. It will beseen that the upper or instep block extends 5 along the middle line from toe to heel of the sole-piece, that its upper edge is made to the proper curvature to conform the boot to the foot, and that on either side thereof wide open air-spaces are provided. These vacant or air spaces between the side flanges of the solepiece and the sides of the instep-block are especially advantageous in making a low-cut shoe, by permitting the upper to be contracted or narrowed around the top parts, and thus forming a closer-fitting shoe. lhe openspaces also permit the leather to dry more rapidly, and render the removal of the last more easy.

It is found that the peculiar construction of the upper portion of my last not only reduces the Weight, but gives to the boot or shoe precisely the same shape and measurement that it would receive from a last having a full or solid form.

The operation of the last is clear on reference to the drawings.

111 all kinds of shoe-making work, especially sewed boots and shoes, in which an ironbottomed last is desirable, the bottom of the sole or base piece may be constructed without the recess, so as to present a solid iron face.

I do not claim as my invention the recessing of the under face of the metallic base a, and the insertion in said recess of a wooden or other block, into which the awl may be driven. Such construction is old.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r 1. In a shoe-last, the combination of a metallic base or sole having side flanges rounded on their outer sides, and extended from the toe nearly to the heel, leaving a vertical opening between their rear ends, and a wooden upper or instep-block forked at its forward end, and having its rear end projected through the vertical opening between the rear ends of the side flanges of the sole, .and secured in place by a suitable bolt, substantially as set forth.

2. The co1nbination,-in a shoe-last, of the rib or center piece, I), having its forward end slotted, and forming the parallel arms b I), connected by the bolt b, and an instep-block, 0, having the lip or flange c, with its extension 0", adapted to pass down into the slot of the rib or center piece, b, and be held by its extension catching nnder the bolt 1)", substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the metallic base or sole having upwardly-projecting flanges formed along its sides, and extended from the toe nearly to the heel, leaving an opening between the rear ends of said flanges, of a narrow forked instep-block, the tines whereof are connected by cross-bolt, and a top removable instep-block provided with a downwardlyprojecting hooked lip adapted to engage the cross-bolt on the lower block and lie between the tines of said block, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, on this 9th day of September, 1881.

ARTHUR W. COX.

Witnesses:

Amos G. Frrz, JOHN \VEsLEY Vanni 1,. 

